Namibia's new president announces key appointments, trims Cabinet

Windhoek [Namibia], March 23: Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who assumed office on Friday, has announced her new leadership team, including the appointments of Lucia Witbooi as vice president and Elijah Ngurare as prime minister.
Announcing the appointments on Saturday in Windhoek, the country's capital, Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia's fifth president, also introduced a sweeping restructuring of government ministries and agencies to enhance efficiency and streamline operations.
"As elected leaders, we have an immense responsibility to ensure that we consolidate democracy, peace, stability, and good governance in the country, as well as to expedite the delivery of quality public services to all Namibians," Nandi-Ndaitwah said in a statement.
She also announced a reduction in government ministries from 21 to 14, with a total of seven deputy ministers. Highlighting key structural changes, Nandi-Ndaitwah said that trade mandate will now fall under the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation to foster economic diplomacy and promote regional and continental economic integration.
Industrialization will shift to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, aligning with its role in managing mineral resources to drive industrialization and economic diversification through value-addition initiatives, she said.
Regarding the emerging oil and gas sector, she emphasized that its management must ensure maximum benefits for all Namibians. "Therefore, the management of these industries will fall under the Office of the President," she added.
Source: Xinhua News Agency